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Picadilly Circus, London (UK) » Entertainment » Festivals

For more than a decade, Theatreland has been organising Kids Week to give youngsters an insight into a West End theatre performance. It has been running successfully every year during mid-August. so make sure you’ve booked your tickets in advance!Children aged between five and sixteen have free entry to all West End theatre performances in Theatreland if a fully-paying adult is accompanying them. Children get to know what goes into making of a theatre/dance/comedy act, like the backstage work, make up, costumes, rehearsals, scripts, technical set up, etc. They also get to eat free of charge at the child friendly restaurants along with a host of other freebies that are on offer.

The Raindance Film Festival is the UK’s largest film festival highlighting some of the most memorable short feature films and directorial debuts. It is different from all the regular film festivals due to its rock and roll attitude and therefore is extremely popular among London’s West End party goers. For the last 15 years, more than 90 feature films and 160 short films have been screened with names like Judi Dench and Ewan McGregor attending the festival. The festival takes place between September & October.

Held during the first week of August. A complete fun and frolic festival, the 2-days Innocent Village Fete at Regent’s Park is filled with happy, jumping with joy people who are slurping on their innocent smoothie drinks. Alternative Live music and entertaining events like tambola, coconut shy, dog agility shy, and fun fair rides add to the excitement. Shoppers and foodies can go and sample what’s on offer at the farmer’s market and many food stalls. This fete is held with an honest intention as the money made from the event goes to charity institutions like the Samaritans, Friends of the Earth and Wellchild.

On the 3rd of September, Regent’s Street remains closed to traffic as a theatrical and musical extravaganza goes live. Every year there’s a different theme, sometimes it may be a ‘Great British Experience’ or like in 2010, when it was ‘Fashion’. A huge street party is organised with events, food stalls, live music and entertainment based on the current theme. Workshops, makeovers in stores, special offers and loads of entertainment help the shoppers get in the spending mood.

Christmas is welcomed by Londoners in their own unique style with the switching on of the Christmas lights on Regent Street. It’s like an official announcement that yes, Christmas has arrived and everybody should gear up for all the fun, shopping and the prayers. Every year a well-known celebrity/personality is called to do the honours. Once the proceedings are over, the street is closed from 4.00 pm so that the town people can enjoy the beauty of the street without the usual traffic.

Every year, during the Christmas season, at the beautiful location of the Georgian St. James’s Church in Piccadilly, the Joyful Company of Singers and the Georgian Camerata conducted by Peter Broadbent, bring to life Handel’s masterpiece ‘Messiah’. The ‘Messiah’ has been instrumental in charity work since 1741 and is a symbol of dedication on Handel’s part, which he continued despite his blindness.

London’s New Year Parade is the biggest event celebrated in England with more than 10,000 performers taking part in various concerts, events, parades, marching bands, dance troupes and music groups. This spectacular event is London’s heart where people from various continents and countries come together for three hours of non-stop celebration and splendour. The Parade starts from Parliament Square at noon when the Big Ben gives the signal, marching towards Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, Cockspur St, Pall Mall, Lower Regent St, Piccadilly Circus and finally to Piccadilly.